Dalhousie’s law, business and MBA programs have been recognized for their success at incorporating sustainability and social causes.
The Schulich School of Law ranked third among Canadian law schools in the Corporate Knights magazine’s Knight Schools survey, closely behind the University of Toronto and York University. The School of Business Administration ranked seventh out of 20 in the undergraduate business programs category, with the MBA program finishing 10th in its category.
The survey ranks Canadian universities on how well they integrate social and environmental sustainability into their school's experience, examining how sustainability and its related themes translate into the curriculum, student and faculty research initiatives, and student-led initiatives.
“I find it incredible—and incredibly humbling—to look out over our 128 years as a school and see the Weldon tradition of unselfish public service alive in so many things we undertake as a community,” says Kim Brooks, dean of the law school.
Student leadership
With a number or research programs and courses exploring social and environmental issues, it’s no wonder that the Schulich School of Law fared so well in the rankings. In particular, the school was singled out as a national best practice in student-led initiatives, citing student associations as Pro Bono Students Canada, Dalhousie Aboriginal Law Students’ Association, Queer Legal Students’ Association, Student Animal Law Association of Dalhousie and the Environmental Law Student Society.
"That the survey singles out the work of our student body speaks volumes to me," says Dean Brooks. "Whether it is organizing speakers on animal welfare, arranging conferences on global access to potable water, volunteering their skills and talents on pro bono or community work, or fundraising selling cupcakes and grilled cheese sandwiches at the front entrance, I am renewed and inspired on a weekly basis by our students' engagement in the Weldon tradition."
Education values
The Faculty of Management’s reputation in social and environmental sustainability is also well established. Not only are its student groups actively involved in sustainability causes, but the Faculty also hosts the School for Resource and Environmental Studies and the Marine Affairs Program, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
“Our mission is to be the internationally recognised centre of value-led management education,” says Dean Peggy Cunningham. “We focus on an ‘IDEAS’ model - integrity, diversity, excellence in the practice of management, action to make a difference, and sustainability.
“We incorporate these values into our performance metrics and student learning goals since we believe these values are critical to management and leadership no matter the sector in which our graduates build their careers. Participating in the Corporate Knights annual survey of business schools provides us with benchmarks for our progress in realizing this mission.”
Read the full results online at the Corporate Knights website.